Palmer Luckey just got the first delivery of a $128,000 electric aircraft

[Allan]

There is some cool video showing this $128k electric aircraft in flight.

I can't think of a single thing that can go wrong once there's a lot of these flying around

Over the weekend, Luckey took the Jetson One for a spin. The electric VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft was first announced in 2021, spawning a flurry of news about the future of flying vehicles. Almost four years later, Jetson completed its first worldwide delivery to the cofounder of Oculus and Anduril.

Palmer Luckey just got the first delivery of a $128,000 electric aircraft — watch his test drive of the Jetson One

Palmer Luckey was the first delivery customer for the Jetson One, a solo electric aircraft. He took it for a quick flight around Carlsbad, California.

www.businessinsider.com

 

[Integrityrespec]

It's a toy. A long way to go.
There are no widely used electric commercial planes primarily because battery technology lacks the necessary energy density and power-to-weight ratio compared to fossil fuels for large aircraft, leading to heavy batteries, reduced range, and issues with weight distribution and landing stress. Other challenges include the flammability of some batteries, limited recharge speed, and the significant cost and time involved in certifying new aircraft designs. While small electric planes are flying for short-range flights, scaling up the technology for commercial and long-haul flights requires substantial advancements in battery chemistry and aircraft design, such as larger wings for better aerodynamic efficiency.

Here are the main reasons why electric planes are not common yet:

• Battery Energy Density:
  Batteries are currently much heavier and store far less energy per kilogram than jet fuel. To power a large aircraft, the batteries would be so heavy that they would take up too much space and weight, significantly reducing the available payload of passengers and cargo.
  
  
• Weight vs. Fuel Burn:
  Unlike jet fuel, which is burned off and becomes lighter during flight, batteries are a "dead weight" that remains in the aircraft, stressing the landing gear and runways more during landing.
  
  
• Range and Reserve Requirements:
  The heavy batteries and lower energy density translate to much shorter flight ranges, typically 80-90% less than their fossil fuel counterparts. A crucial safety reserve for emergencies also severely limits the actual usable range.
  
  
• Cost and Certification:
  Developing and certifying a new aircraft design is a long, expensive, and arduous process. Electric batteries also face issues with high replacement costs and reduced lifespan due to intense usage in aviation.
  
  
• Recharge and Infrastructure:
  Electric planes require significant time to recharge, which conflicts with the quick turnaround needed for efficient commercial operations. A specialized infrastructure for battery charging or swapping would also be required.
  
  
• Safety Concerns:
  Some current battery technologies, like lithium-ion, are flammable and pose a significant safety risk in an aircraft environment, especially if damaged during flight.
  

AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more


The longest flight by a battery-powered manned aircraft was likely the ALIA aircraft by BETA Technologies, which completed a 336-nautical-mile (622-km) non-stop flight in 2024 from Jamestown, NY, to Plattsburgh, NY. This flight is believed to be the longest non-stop, battery-powered flight of an electric aircraft to date.

 

[Grand Mal]

It's a toy. A long way to go.
There are no widely used electric commercial planes primarily because battery technology lacks the necessary energy density and power-to-weight ratio compared to fossil fuels for large aircraft, leading to heavy batteries, reduced range, and issues with weight distribution and landing stress. Other challenges include the flammability of some batteries, limited recharge speed, and the significant cost and time involved in certifying new aircraft designs. While small electric planes are flying for short-range flights, scaling up the technology for commercial and long-haul flights requires substantial advancements in battery chemistry and aircraft design, such as larger wings for better aerodynamic efficiency.

Here are the main reasons why electric planes are not common yet:

• Battery Energy Density:
  Batteries are currently much heavier and store far less energy per kilogram than jet fuel. To power a large aircraft, the batteries would be so heavy that they would take up too much space and weight, significantly reducing the available payload of passengers and cargo.
  
  
• Weight vs. Fuel Burn:
  Unlike jet fuel, which is burned off and becomes lighter during flight, batteries are a "dead weight" that remains in the aircraft, stressing the landing gear and runways more during landing.
  
  
• Range and Reserve Requirements:
  The heavy batteries and lower energy density translate to much shorter flight ranges, typically 80-90% less than their fossil fuel counterparts. A crucial safety reserve for emergencies also severely limits the actual usable range.
  
  
• Cost and Certification:
  Developing and certifying a new aircraft design is a long, expensive, and arduous process. Electric batteries also face issues with high replacement costs and reduced lifespan due to intense usage in aviation.
  
  
• Recharge and Infrastructure:
  Electric planes require significant time to recharge, which conflicts with the quick turnaround needed for efficient commercial operations. A specialized infrastructure for battery charging or swapping would also be required.
  
  
• Safety Concerns:
  Some current battery technologies, like lithium-ion, are flammable and pose a significant safety risk in an aircraft environment, especially if damaged during flight.

AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more


The longest flight by a battery-powered manned aircraft was likely the ALIA aircraft by BETA Technologies, which completed a 336-nautical-mile (622-km) non-stop flight in 2024 from Jamestown, NY, to Plattsburgh, NY. This flight is believed to be the longest non-stop, battery-powered flight of an electric aircraft to date.

Harbour Air has been testing electric Beavers successfully and is awaiting certification to put them into regular service by 2027.

"The three eBeavers, powered by magniX’s industry-leading magni650 electric engines, are anticipated to carry 4 to 6 passengers each and have an endurance of 60 to 75 minutes of flight time, including reserve. This represents a significant advancement in sustainable aviation technology, making commercially electric aviation a reality on the west and east coast of Canada."

https://harbourair.com/harbour-air-launches-eplane-conversion-program-with-bel-air-aviation/

 

[Peacenik]

There is some cool video showing this $128k electric aircraft in flight.

I can't think of a single thing that can go wrong once there's a lot of these flying around

Palmer Luckey just got the first delivery of a $128,000 electric aircraft — watch his test drive of the Jetson One

Palmer Luckey was the first delivery customer for the Jetson One, a solo electric aircraft. He took it for a quick flight around Carlsbad, California.

www.businessinsider.com

OK, this guy is bonkers:

"He's also built some offbeat tech, such as in 2022, when he showcased a VR headset that he said was modified with three "explosive charge modules" that trigger when the wearer loses in a video game, "instantly destroying the brain of the user," killing them in real life, too. (Unsurprisingly, that product was not released to the public.)"

 

[Integrityrespec]

Harbour Air has been testing electric Beavers successfully and is awaiting certification to put them into regular service by 2027.

"The three eBeavers, powered by magniX’s industry-leading magni650 electric engines, are anticipated to carry 4 to 6 passengers each and have an endurance of 60 to 75 minutes of flight time, including reserve. This represents a significant advancement in sustainable aviation technology, making commercially electric aviation a reality on the west and east coast of Canada."

https://harbourair.com/harbour-air-launches-eplane-conversion-program-with-bel-air-aviation/

Pretty sure I stick with jet fuel.